Psalm 73

The Justice of God^e

73 God is indeed good to Israel,

to those who have pure hearts.

²But I had nearly lost confidence;

my faith was almost gone

³because I was jealous of the proud

when I saw that things go well for the wicked.

⁴They do not suffer pain;

they are strong and healthy.

⁵They do not suffer as other people do;

they do not have the troubles that others have.

⁶And so they wear pride like a necklace

and violence like a robe;

⁷their hearts pour out evil,^f

and their minds are busy with wicked schemes.

⁸They laugh at other people and speak of evil things;

they are proud and make plans to oppress others.

⁹They speak evil of God in heaven

and give arrogant orders to everyone on earth,

¹⁰so that even God’s people turn to them

and eagerly believe whatever they say.^g

¹¹They say, “God will not know;

the Most High will not find out.”

¹²That is what the wicked are like.

They have plenty and are always getting more.

¹³Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure

and have not committed sin?

¹⁴O God, you have made me suffer all day long;

every morning you have punished me.

¹⁵If I had said such things,

I would not be acting as one of your people.

¹⁶I tried to think this problem through,

but it was too difficult for me

¹⁷until I went into your Temple.

Then I understood what will happen to the wicked.

¹⁸You will put them in slippery places

and make them fall to destruction!

¹⁹They are instantly destroyed;

they go down to a horrible end.

²⁰They are like a dream that goes away in the morning;

when you rouse yourself, O Lord, they disappear.

²¹When my thoughts were bitter

and my feelings were hurt,

²²I was as stupid as an animal;

I did not understand you.

²³Yet I always stay close to you,

and you hold me by the hand.

²⁴You guide me with your instruction

and at the end you will receive me with honour.

²⁵What else have I in heaven but you?

Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?

²⁶My mind and my body may grow weak,

but God is my strength;

he is all I ever need.

²⁷Those who abandon

you will certainly perish; you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.

²⁸But as for me, how wonderful to be near God,

to find protection with the Sovereign Lord

and to proclaim all that he has done!